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State senator's $5 million defamation claim denied, Ellsworth attorney vows to sue

Montana's tort defense office has denied a $5 million claim from state Sen. Jason Ellsworth, a Hamilton Republican who said he was defamed in the controversial saga that ended with his lifetime ban from the Montana Senate. The senator, who has been under investigation by the Montana Department

What the ethics committee's 22-page report on Ellsworth's contract does and doesn't say

The Senate Ethics Committee charged with investigating a senator’s controversial state-funded contract wrapped up its work Wednesday, signing off on a 22-page report of its findings. The Senate voted to convene the committee after Sen. Jason Ellsworth, R-Hamilton, obtained a contract for his longtime friend using

Contractor subpoenaed after declining ethics committee's call to testify in Ellsworth case

The consultant on the other end of a state-funded contract that sparked splintering investigations into Sen. Jason Ellsworth declined a legislative ethics committee's request for his testimony on Friday, prompting lawmakers to issue a subpoena to the Ravalli County Sheriff's Office. Bryce Eggleston, the owner

Before controversial contract, Sen. Ellsworth pushed state job for business associate

Before Sen. Jason Ellsworth quietly tried shepherding a $170,000 state-funded contract for his longtime business associate, he sought to clear the way for Stevensville’s Bryce Eggleston to land a job in state government. The Montana State News Bureau on Monday obtained Eggleston’s resume for a communications

Ethics panel on Ellsworth's contract investigating potential criminal violation

A legislative ethics committee is investigating the idea that a Hamilton senator's state-funded business contract may have violated criminal statute, according to a letter adopted at the second of two committee meetings Monday. The Montana Senate voted last week to convene an ethics committee after news of

Ellsworth contract updates: Ex-business associate says contract was his proposal

After Sen. Jason Ellsworth came under fire for an improper state-funded business contract, Ellsworth’s associate on the receiving end of the deal said under oath the contracts were his own idea, according to sworn testimony obtained by the Montana State News Bureau. It is the first time his

Legislative audit: Sen. Ellsworth's contracts 'illegal,' 'waste of state resources'

A Hamilton senator's recent attempt to skirt oversight in the bidding process constituted abuse of his government position as Senate President, and he wasted state resources in trying to resolve the matter, legislative auditors have determined. Republican Sen. Jason Ellsworth quietly signed a $170,100 contract with a